Somehow I was channel surfing the other night when I tripped over an episode of the Gordon Ramsey/Graham Elliot/Joe Bastianich show, Masterchef, in which the contestants are age 9 to 13. If someone had pitched this idea to me I'd have said no way, couldn't possibly interest me, it's for kids, yada yada. Well, I watched the whole thing and then eagerly watched the next installment. And then I set my DVR to get the rest!

No child I've ever known could possibly do the things these kids did, in particular a doughy 13 year old named Alexander who not only cinched his place in the finalists with a plate of macarons--they were the most elegant, top-notch pastry chef looking macarons I've ever laid eyes on. Everything else he did was equally as mature and expert. He blew out the competition on a burger challenge with a threesome of sliders and kale chips, and only lost the final mystery box challenge by a hair to a ten year old charmer who is so small he has to stand on a stool to see over the counter.

To my complete astonishment, this was every bit as entertaining as watching adults cook, and in a lot of ways even more so. I've never seen children who could pull off what these kids are doing, and the judges all seemed to be as amazed as I was. Mind you, this show has a lot of set-up in it. It's clear that there's been some off-camera training and coaching, and none of the challenges are as spontaneous and unplanned as they're presented to be, but still, these kids are really cooking and they collectively are bringing a lot of knowledge about food and technique of a kind I've never seen in any child anywhere, though I can imagine Mike Filigenzi's daughter being up to the task!

This could be as riveting as Top Chef, I kid you not (pun intended).

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

I know you don't watch Giada de Laurentis but her little girl appears on the show now and then and already, at four, has an amzing vocabulary for food terms. She is in the kithcen with mom being coached already.

Our youngest son, would stand on a stool at my stove and by age 5 could make a mean omelete. He grew up cooking for himself and friends. When in his first few years of college, he worked summers in Alaska, in the kitchen, and by his third year, he became second chef. That year, he stopped off in Seattle, after his job ended and catered a wedding for 400 peolpe, for a couple had met in Alaska. When working for the Redding Police Department I did a cookbook, as a fund raiser, one of my chapters is titled Cops Kids Cook. I got all sorts of great recipes from the officers kids, we tested each and every one of them too. Yes, kids can cook. Thanks for the info on that show, I will record it.

I watched both Aussie kids versions. The cooking was simply incredible. I hope Gordon Ramsay & co show some tact in their critique to the kids. They were pretty nasty to some of the adult contestants - yes we get USA Masterchef here for some reason as well as the Aus and NZ versions.

Sue Courtney wrote:I watched both Aussie kids versions. The cooking was simply incredible. I hope Gordon Ramsay & co show some tact in their critique to the kids. They were pretty nasty to some of the adult contestants - yes we get USA Masterchef here for some reason as well as the Aus and NZ versions.

Not nasty at all; they seemed genuinely astonished and impressed. Gordon, whose tough exterior hides a pretty big heart, maybe most of all. Interesting to contemplate kids learning to cook on this level--they probably eat in higher end restaurants often (the kids' names and residential location appear on the screen, and it's hard not to notice that they come from in super-wealthy towns like Palos Verdes Estates and Pacific Palisades), and their standards for food excellence would be higher than yours or mine were at their age. They all, of course, plan on owning their own restaurant some day.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Len had another hockey game last night, so I finally jumped over to Masterchef Junior OnDemand after catching up with the latest installment of Top Chef. I was completely "Wowed." Those kids can cook. I agree with everything you say, Jenise, including the obvious off-camera coaching and the kids not being as surprised as the network is trying to lead us to believe they are, but still! It is clear, Alexander was born to be a chef, and some of the others are so darned cute and creative, it's just a joy to watch. (And I've never been a big fan of watching kids do anything, quite honestly.)

Carrie L. wrote:Len had another hockey game last night, so I finally jumped over to Masterchef Junior OnDemand after catching up with the latest installment of Top Chef. I was completely "Wowed." Those kids can cook. I agree with everything you say, Jenise, including the obvious off-camera coaching and the kids not being as surprised as the network is trying to lead us to believe they are, but still! It is clear, Alexander was born to be a chef, and some of the others are so darned cute and creative, it's just a joy to watch. (And I've never been a big fan of watching kids do anything, quite honestly.)

You and I are so alike--I don't dislike children, but I skipped motherhood for a reason and watching kids do kiddie things just doesn't hold any appeal. But this is entirely different. And yes, Alexander was born to do this and is in a league of his own. As the episodes progress, it becomes even more clear. I would have gladly had a gaggle of children myself if someone could have guaranteed me a child as sweet, contemplative, lovable and creative as Alexander. But alas, I'd have probably got a reincarnation of my no-good younger brother, so it's good for the world that I passed.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov